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Loris: Bike at 80 per cent

25 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Loris: Bike at 80 per cent

Loris Capirossi believes Ducati’s new 800cc contender is only at 80 per cent of its potential as the Italian continues to seek electronic improvements to the V4 GP7. The former world 125 and 250...

Vale's hairy pair

25 January 2007 by Chris Newbigging

Vale's hairy pair

You’ve got to hand it to Rossi, he’s finding more and more ways to be wacky and different. Now he’s wearing boots covered in horse hair. MCN’s GP Reporter Matt Birt spotted the mad footwear as Rossi...

Ellison's Valencia focus

25 January 2007 by Michael Guy

Ellison's Valencia focus

Dean Ellison made his WSB testing debut earlier this month and is currently preparing himself for a second test in Valencia in less than two weeks time. After a steady start, Ellison has had time to...

Jezza reveals setback

25 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Jezza reveals setback

Jeremy McWilliams is confident he will be able to return to MotoGP action at next month’s Qatar IRTA test. The hope is still there after a blunder by Spanish surgeons could have shattered his dreams...

WSB preview questions

25 January 2007 by Michael Guy

WSB preview questions

What do you want to know? MCN are currently working on their comprehensive WSB season preview where we’ll be finding out about James Toseland’s thoughts and aspirations for the year ahead.  Now we...

North West 200 launch

24 January 2007 by Gary Pinchin

North West 200 launch

The stature of the North West 200 road race meeting in Northern Ireland was underlined this week. The Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain attended the launch of the 2007 races at the...

Guintoli's crash ban

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Guintoli's crash ban

French MotoGP rookie Sylvain Guintoli’s baptism of fire continued in Sepang today when Yamaha barred him from riding after two crashes on the first two days. After a first day spill, the Tech 3 rider...

Vermeulen's experience

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen's experience

Rizla Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen believes he can make a big impact in his second MotoGP campaign after another confidence boosting test in Sepang. The Aussie set his best time on a Bridgestone...

Rossi on electronics

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rossi on electronics

Valentino Rossi topped the timesheets at the Sepang to signal his intent to claim back the MotoGP world crown before denying that the new 800cc machines placed more emphasis back in rider...

Hayden's work ahead

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hayden's work ahead

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden admitted Honda has plenty of work to do if he has any hope of retaining his world title. The American came to this conclusion after a tough return to the track in...

Tardozzi: 999 is dead

24 January 2007 by Michael Guy

Tardozzi: 999 is dead

Xerox Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi has warned that WSB will suffer in 2008 if Ducati aren’t allowed to race their new flagship 1098 sports bike. Speaking to MCN, Tardozzi admitted that although...

Video: Sepang test day 2

24 January 2007 by MCN

Video: Sepang test day 2

We have exclusive footage of day two at Sepang from MCN’s MotoGP, writer Matthew Birt.

Sepang: Day 3

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Sepang: Day 3

Valentino Rossi left his best till last, but ended the three day Sepang MotoGP test fastest after spending the first two days chasing Suzukis. Rossi’s best lap of 2:00.93 was the only one under the...

Yukio's MotoGP holiday

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yukio's MotoGP holiday

Former British Superbike favourite and current factory Suzuki WSB rider Yukio Kagayama has cropped up in the paddock at the Sepang test – on a jolly! Kagayama isn’t riding and has flown to Kuala...

No 16" for Bridgestone

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

No 16" for Bridgestone

Bridgestone has no plans to follow rivals Michelin and begin testing 16-inch front tyres for the new 800cc MotoGP era. Michelin started testing its 16-inch front at this week’s Sepang test in Malaysia...

Blog: Sepang Sauna

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Blog: Sepang Sauna

Phew what a scorcher today was. To be honest part of me is pining for some cold weather at home right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of sun as much as the next person, but today here in Sepang...

Blog: Back on the road

24 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Blog: Back on the road

Greetings comrades from a rather baking hot and sunny Malaysia.  Happy New Year and all that but yes, after you’ve all had the pleasure of seven weeks without my ramblings, I’m back in blog mode and...

Honda promise power

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Honda promise power

Honda has told its top MotoGP riders that more horsepower is on the way. Several Honda riders including world champion Nicky Hayden voiced their concerns about a lack of power on the new 800cc RC212V...

Smith on form fast

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Smith on form fast

Teen star Bradley Smith has started 2007 with a bang, going second fastest in the 125 GP class’ first major test of the year at Jerez in Spain. The Repsol Honda rider turned 16 before Christmas after...

Hopper remains on top

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hopper remains on top

Suzuki’s John Hopkins stayed at the top of the timesheets at the major Sepang MotoGP test today, day two of the three day test there. Hopkins and Suzuki team-mate Chris Vermeulen went quickest...

Pedrosa crashes

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Pedrosa crashes

Dani Pedrosa walked away from a crash on Honda’s new RC212V 800cc bike at the second day of testing here in Sepang today. The Spaniard crashed just before 2pm to bring out the red flags though damage...

Video: Sepang: day 1

23 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Video: Sepang: day 1

MCN’s MotoGP reporter Matthew Birt has sent back footage of day one of testing in Sepang. Take a look below as you see the likes of former champion Valentino Rossi and current champion Nicky Hayden...

Video: Ducati GP7

23 January 2007 by Dave Rawlings

Video: Ducati GP7

The bike is now making its mark on the track in Sepang, but here’s your chance to get up close to the all-new Ducati GP7 Desmosedici. This video walk-round of the bike launched last week for all to...

Yamaha to unveil colours

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Yamaha to unveil colours

Yamaha will only officially unveil its 2007 factory MotoGP livery at the final winter test in Jerez next month. It still remains a mystery though whether Valentino Rossi will have a sponsor as he aims...

Vermeulen's new chassis

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Vermeulen's new chassis

Aussie Chris Vermeulen will test a brand new tailor-made chassis built just for him tomorrow at the Sepang MotoGP test. Vermeulen, who was second quickest on the opening day of 2007 winter testing in...

Hayden fifth

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Hayden fifth

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden completed just 38 laps of the opening day of testing in Malaysia today as he made his first track appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery in November. The...

New chasis for KRJR

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

New chasis for KRJR

Kenny Roberts will try a new chassis on only his second day of testing the all-new KR212V 800cc machine tomorrow at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. The new chassis was only finished last Wednesday at...

Rossi third after break

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Rossi third after break

Valentino Rossi finished third fastest on the opening day of the Sepang test as he revealed his seven-week break saw his wretched run of bad luck continue. After a season of misfortune in 2006 that...

Suzuki fastest in Sepang

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Suzuki fastest in Sepang

Suzuki started where they left off last year, with Rizla men John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen first and second fastest on day one today of the major Sepang MotoGP test which ends the winter testing...

Checa and Guintoli crash

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Checa and Guintoli crash

Carlos Checa and Sylvain Guintoli both escaped injury after crashing out at the opening day of testing in Sepang as the MotoGP grid returned to the track after a seven-week lay-off. Checa crashed...

Kiyo suprise in Malaysia

22 January 2007 by Matthew Birt

Kiyo suprise in Malaysia

Reigning British superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari was a surprise addition to the Sepang line-up. The Japanese rider was testing two Honda FireBlade machines for a ‘multitude’ of purposes according...

WSB skips Turkey

22 January 2007 by Michael Guy

WSB skips Turkey

The 2007 World Superbike calendar has finally been confirmed as a 13 round series starting in Qatar next month.  The provisional calendar included a 14th round rumoured to be the awesome Istanbul...

Laconi ready for 2007

22 January 2007 by Michael Guy

Laconi ready for 2007

After a disastrous 2006 campaign, former WSB front runner Regis Laconi believes he can turnaround his fortunes in 2007. This is thanks to new spec Ohlins suspension and his down sized team.  Last year...

Metzger breaks back

22 January 2007 by MCN

Metzger breaks back

Freestyle motocrosser Mike Metzger broke his back attempting a back-flip in Long Beach, California on Wednesday, January 17, 2006. According to reports on the Long Beach Presstelegram Metzger was...

Richards in World Enduro

21 January 2007 by Gary Pinchin

Richards in World Enduro

Out of work BSB star Glen Richards has joined the Phase One Endurance team for the seven-round world championship. Since finishing fifth in the 2005 BSB series on a Kawasaki ZX10, Australian Richards...

UK1 signs teenagers

21 January 2007 by MCN

UK1 signs teenagers

Former 125 British title–winning team UK1 Racing are continuing their philosophy of fostering new young riders. They have announced they have signed 14-year-old Connor Behan alongside 13-year-old...